Cllr Tyrone Ripley (Chairman), Cllr John Arnold (Vice Chairman), Cllr Ernie Bernsten, Cllr John Bodycomb, Cllr Pam Denny, Cllr Alan Horton, Cllr Gerry Lewin, Cllr Gary Rosewell and Cllr Neil Sheppard. Clerk Mrs Wendy Licence.
Santa Claus is Coming to Town!
On 19th December, Father Christmas and two elves will be at the Village Hall and all children in the parish are invited, with their parents and carers, to meet him. The event will be a tremendous photo opportunity so remember to bring your cameras to take a special reminder of this event. A local group will be asked to sell refreshments.
The Christmas tree will be erected on 5th December. The Parish Council is grateful to Mr Bob Friend for his generous provision of a Christmas tree.
Paddock and Recreation Ground
The two lime trees near the beacon need to be felled as they are diseased. A Jubilee oak tree will be planted near to Oak Lane on 9th December. The Council is liaising with a local arboriculturist regarding a scheme of planting to replace the poplar trees along the Chaffes Lane side of the Recreation Ground which had to be felled because they were diseased.
Three new benches have been installed at the Paddock and one at the Recreation Ground, this has been funded from the Swale Borough Council Welcome Back Fund.
Highways and Street Lighting
The streetlight in Windmill Hill is still waiting connection by UK Power Networks.
KCC Highways still has not installed the bollards in Chaffes Lane and this is being taken up with KCC.
The Council will participate in the KF&R Fire Hydrants Initiative Project to ensure there are no issues with the hydrants in the village.
Village Sign
The Council has accepted a quotation to refurbish the village sign. When the work has been completed an image will be taken of it with the Council owning the copyright on behalf of the village so that groups can freely use the image.
Defibrillator
The Council has applied for a grant for an accessible defibrillator at the Doctors’ Surgery, the Council is grateful to Dr Das and Dr Subbiah for their permission to put a defibrillator on the outside of the surgery.
Planning
i. Ref: 21/504875/FULL
Address: The Old Dairy Gore Farm Adjacent Gore House Chaffes Lane Upchurch ME9 7BE
Proposal: The conversion and change of use involving a linking structure to 3 three bedroom dwelling.
Councillors considered the application and agreed that they had no objections to the principle of the conversion of the buildings but the proposal raises issues that if further applications come in for the remainder of the buildings on this yard, that it would leave a working farm without a working area for vehicles, refueling; maintenance, storage, etc. It would be helpful, therefore, to have a better understanding as to how the owner or operator would facilitate the work of the farm.
ii. Ref: 21/504908/LAWPRO
Address: Land View Poot Lane Upchurch Sittingbourne Kent ME9 7HL
Proposal: Lawful Development Certificate for a proposed single storey rear and side extensions, and conversion of existing attached garage to habitable accommodation.
Councillors considered the application and had no objections to the proposal and that the views of neighbours should be taken into account.
iii. Ref: 21/504996/FULL
Address: 29 Woodruff Close Upchurch Kent ME8 7XQ
Proposal: Demolition of the existing conservatory and erection of a single storey rear extension, insertion of a new window to the existing house, including associated internal alterations.
Councillors considered the application and had no objections to the proposal and that the views of neighbours should be taken into account.
Iv. Swale Borough Council Local Plan Consultation
Swale Borough Council is consulting on Issues and Preferred Options, the consultation can be found online at: https://swale.gov.uk/planning-and-regeneration/local-plans/local-plan-review and closes on 29th November.
The Queen's Platinum Jubliee 2nd June 2022
Plans continue to progress for the celebration of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in 2022. The beacon will be lit as part of the national celebration on Thursday 2nd June and there will be a piper as well as hot drinks and food stalls to create a celebration of the event.
Street parties will be held on Sunday 5th June and, where it is not possible for residents to hold street parties in their roads, they will be permitted to have a “street party” at the Recreation Ground. Residents who would like to take advantage of this are requested to inform the Council so that the event on the Recreation Ground can be held safely. Please contact the Clerk to book your space.
This is a precis of Council business; full minutes of all meetings can be found on the website when ratified.
Date of next meetings:
Full Council - Thursday 2nd December at 7:30pm in Upchurch Scout Hut.
The Planning Committee and General Purposes Committee - Wednesday 15th December at 7:30pm in the Small Hall of the Village Hall.
All residents are welcome to attend the meetings and there is a time for members of the public to comment, raise concerns or ask questions.
To help keep loved ones safe, please DO NOT attend the meeting if you have had any known contact with COVID-19 in the previous 14 days or have experienced symptoms. Questions and comments can be sent to the Clerk to be raised at the meeting.
Wendy Licence - Clerk to the Parish Council
